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The History of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Inc.
The Organizing Members The first organizing and planning meeting for our church was held in the home of Deacon Lucius B. Eberhardt. The planning committee was composed of then Pastor Luther Westbrook, Brother William Burton, Brother Lucius Eberhardt, Brother Parker Booker, Brother Harry Stimpson, Brother Jasper Whitaker and Brother Ambrose Jackson. Perry J. Brown gave Pastor Westbrook and this committee permission to hold services in the chapel of the Perry J. Brown Funeral Home. Weekly services for the new church were begun here. The Official Board was organized with the following members: Brother John Fountain, chairman, Brother Harry Stimpson, Brother Fred Worthy, Brother William Burton, Brother Lucius Eberhardt and Brother Parker Booker. The Trustee Board appointees were Brother John Fountain, chairman, Brother Clarence Mitchell, Brother William Springs, Brother Ambrose Jackson, Brother Wiley Presley and Brother Jasper Posey. The recording secretary was Sister Etta Fountain. Pastor Westbrook's wife, Sister Rachel Westbrook, was a great inspiration in helping to organize the auxiliaries of the church. In early March 1962, it was agreed at a church meeting that the church's name would be Saint Paul Baptist Church. In 1963, the church moved into a beautiful edifice at 320 Walker Avenue in downtown Greensboro. At that same time, the Saint Paul Building Fund was started to meet the goal of a permanent church home. Church membership continued to grow under Pastor Westbrook's leadership until he resigned in 1964. In October 1964, Reverend Will Henry Moore became pastor of Saint Paul. This was truly a blessing from God. Under his pastorship, the church began a Sunday morning radio broadcast which greatly aided the sick and shut-in and continued to bring new souls to Christ. In addition, the Missionary Circle No. II, the Youth Ministry, the Willing Workers Club, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Male Chorus, the Youth Choir, the Nurses Aide Club, the Spiritual Choir and Jubilee Choir were all organized during his pastorship. The church continued to grow spiritually and financially as well as in membership. Because of increased membership, the church approved Rev. Samuel Lee Fogle to serve as assistant pastor in 1968. Through sales of recordings by Pastor Moore and the choir, our building fund was greatly enhanced. All members of the church contributed greatly to this effort as well. Larkin Street was chosen as the site for the future church. Urban renewal forced the demolition of the church building on Walker Avenue. The Greensboro School Board allowed the members of Saint Paul to hold morning worship service in the Caldwell School Auditorium, but would not permit evening services. The pastor and members of Skeens Chapel Holiness Church opened their hearts and doors so that Saint Paul could continue evening services and other meetings. Due to the National Energy Crisis in 1973, morning services could no longer be held at Caldwell School. Pastor Moore and the church building committee, headed by Brother Lucius Eberhardt, secured a contractor and construction began. The sanctuary was completed on December 16, 1973. We held our annual Christmas fellowship dinner following the morning's worship, realizing a dream that was conceived in 1962, when our first Christmas fellowship dinner was held at the Hayes-Taylor YMCA. On June 26, 1974, Pastor Moore died after preaching the third sermon of a week-long revival held at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Pastor Samuel Fogle, who had served assistant pastor for six years, was installed as pastor. Under Pastor Fogle's leadership, the church paid off the mortgage and implemented new programs including the Scholarship Fund, the Scholastic Achievement Recognition for Saint Paul Youth, the Men's Fellowship Club and the Young Adult Missionaries. The church also purchased a van allow those members without available transportation to attend Sunday School and Sunday Worship Service. In the early 1990's, membership had outgrown the original facility. Mr. Clinton Gravley was selected as the architect to design the renovation of the church to provide more classrooms and office space. Members worked for two years to raise funds for the project. In February 1993, Hodges Construction Company began the renovations and additions to Saint Paul. On July 10, 1994, the official dedication service of the educational wing and renovations was held at the church. On Sunday, July 30, 2000, Saint Paul Baptist Church held a Mortgage Burning Ceremony to celebrate having paid off a twenty-year mortgage in only six years. In late 1998, Pastor Fogle was diagnosed with a heart condition. Because of this diagnosis, Pastor Fogle decided it was necessary for him to resign as pastor of Saint Paul after 25 years of service. He continued to attend and be a part of services at Saint Paul whenever possible until the earthly portion of his spiritual journey ended on June 18, 2003. His widow, Sister Lucille Fogle remains a beloved part of the Saint Paul family. Following Pastor Fogle's resignation, a search committee was formed and several candidates were invited to preach to the Saint Paul members. On August 1, 1999, James W. Fisher took pastorship of Saint Paul Baptist Church. On Sunday, July 30, 2000, Saint Paul Baptist Church held a Mortgage Burning Ceremony to celebrate having paid off a twenty year mortgage in only six years. The mortgage was for the education wing of the church which includes Sunday School classrooms, the church library, the computer lab, the church offices and other meeting rooms. Pastor Fisher has been instrumental in the growth at Saint Paul through various ministries that the Lord gave him. The construction of an elevator and a garage and multi-purpose building, the repaving of the parking lot and the remodeling of the pulpit and choir stand have also taken place during Pastor Fisher's leadership. Pastor Fisher is married to Lady Renee Fisher. Since coming to Saint Paul, Lady Fisher has exemplified to the congregation what it is to be a "help meet" and she continues to show forth her "reasonable service" in both word and deed. As Saint Paul continues to grow on the strong foundation that was begun in the spring of 1962, we look forward to the new vision that God has for this ministry. |
Organizing Members
Sis. Maggie Alston Sis. Carrie Benson Deacon Parker Booker Sis. Mary Braswell Sis. Sarah Brown Sis. Roberta Burton-Bracken Deacon William Burton Sis. Altonia Sanders-Hall Clay Sis. Nettie Coad Sis. Gertrude Cooper Bro. Jordan Crandell Sis. Edith Crawford Sis. Mary Daye Sis. Dottie Dingle Deacon Lucius Eberhardt Sis. Thelma Edwards Sis. Mattie Evans Sis. Daisy Foster Sis. Etta Fountain Deacon John Fountain Sis. Hester Gainey Sis. Alice Godfrey Sis. Hallie Haith Sis. Ruby Hamilton Sis. Floree Hardin Sis. Sadie Harper Sis. Eliza Heath Sis. Mae Lois Hill Sis. Nellie Hopkins Rev. Ambrose Jackson Sis. Phyllis Jackson Sis. Trumiller Jenkins Sis. Georgia Johnson Sis. Mary E. Jones Sis. Georgia Keith Sis. Laura Maxwell Deacon Lonnie Maxwell Sis. Sallie McCollough Bro. Clarence Mitchell Bro. Howard Moore Sis. Thelma Moore Bro. Pratt Motley Sis. Mae Bell Petty Bro. Jasper Posey Sis. Malenzia Posey Sis. Janie Potts Sis. Mary Presley Bro. Wylie Presley Sis. Carrie Reaves Sis. Florene Richardson Bro. Adam Saunders Sis. Rosa Small Deacon William Springs Sis. Willie Mae Springs Sis. Daisy Staley Deacon Harry Stimpson Sis. Margaret Stimpson Sis. Fannie Teal Sis. Ester Walden Pastor Luther J. Westbrook Sis. Rachel Westbrook Sis. Ella Whitaker Deacon Jasper Whitaker Deacon Fred Worthy Sis. Lela Worthy |
